Nathan Williams
@bluebirdadventures.bsky.social
PhD Planetary Scientist & Applied Science Systems Engineer @NASA/JPL-Caltech. He/Him/His Personal account; all views are my own. I think I'm quite ready for another adventure! Join me, won't you?
Short article is now out covering our field work in Death Valley National Park and the Mojave Desert earlier this summer! We’re testing new tech and software for future Mars helicopters and aerial vehicles. Photo by me. www.nasa.gov/solar-system... #planetaryscience #nasa #nps #photography
My last photo from Norway, just so beautiful and serene! I greatly look forward to returning someday and exploring more. #photography #norway 🇳🇴
Summer finally starting to thaw the snowpack, with runoff streaming across the tundra
Sitting at the snow line lingering into the summer
Jotunheimen: the mythical home of giants in ancient Norse lore. Even in summer, its rugged icy mountains feel almost otherworldly, vast and primal. #photography #Norway 🇳🇴
Up up up in elevation, the cold maintains its grasp late into summer, yet here still eventually gives way and thaws.
Now far ahead the road has gone, And I must follow if I can
What a gem of a bird! This Bluethroat was as curious and friendly of me as I was for it. 🪶 #birds #photography
Take a deep breath and let the stress gently flow away down the stream
Hidden in a forested valley carved by glaciers in prehistoric times, the village of Borgund 🇳🇴 retains its epic stave church built circa 1200 C.E. Wooden carvings of stylized dragon heads adorn the gables on the roof, and the wood is darkened by a protective tar.
Often is history obscured, but sometimes it’s boldly preserved and allows you to step back in time to the ancient past.
Here’s a little mission design I’ve been working on behind the scenes these past few months for exploring Mars with a small fleet of helicopters! www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqAu... #planetsci #nasa
Introducing Skyfall: Future Concept Mars Helicopters Paving the Way for First Martian Astronauts
YouTube video by AV
youtube.com
More shots from the cruise, particularly of the aesthetic red houses with white trim, and cool dipping rock strata! 🇳🇴
I particularly enjoyed Norway’s long sunsets that bathe the world in gold
The past couple months have been a whirlwind of travel and various activities, including a trip to Norway 🇳🇴! I'm back and recovered, and ready to start sharing some #photography. First, some reflections
Sometimes it’s scary to take a big leap. This baby bluebird was about to make its first flight out of its nest and into the wide world. Spread your wings, little one 💙 #birds
Meep!! We found an American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) tonight! Didn't get to watch it dance, but still always a delight to see these rotund #birds 🪶 outstanding in their field.
No AI, this is a real photo taken by Percy’s engineering cameras of astronomical twilight on #Mars! You can see Deimos in the sky too. I worked pretty hard to plan, execute, and analyze this image, and it came out beautifully! A bit noisy, but it was very dark out after all. #astro #planetary
Mars on Earth! Terrains like this hill in Death Valley are fantastic analogs to run tests for future #planetary missions.
Dark storm approaching behind the dunes. A few minutes later we were blasted by a sandstorm.
Back from field work in the desert. No giant sandworms were awakened.
